OMNI

Magazine Overview

Title: OMNI
Issue Date: December 1984
Volume: 12
Price: $2.50
Cover Headline: ARTHUR C. CLARKE'S "2010" THE FILM AND BEYOND

This issue of OMNI magazine, dated December 1984, prominently features content related to Arthur C. Clarke's "2010," exploring both the film adaptation and broader themes. The cover art depicts a stylized, cosmic scene with a large, green, orb-like face cradled by blue hands, evoking a sense of mystery and extraterrestrial contact.

Anti-Matter: UFO Update

The "Anti-Matter" section, specifically the "UFO Update" subsection, delves into the world of UFO believers through the lens of Canadian photographer Doug Curran. Curran, who states he does not particularly believe in UFOs himself, has spent over six years traveling across the United States and Canada to photograph and interview individuals deeply involved in the UFO movement. His primary interest lies in understanding people's beliefs and how these convictions influence their lives.

Curran's approach involves seeking out individuals who are actively engaged in UFO-related activities. He recounts instances of being directed by locals to find people building rockets or attempting to contact extraterrestrials, often leading him to discover unusual projects in backyards. His photographic subjects are not the UFOs themselves, but the people who believe in them.

Notable Individuals and Beliefs

Among the individuals Curran documented is eighty-two-year-old Ruth Norman, also known as Archangel Uriel, the leader of the Unarius Foundation. Based in El Cajon, California, Norman and her approximately 400 followers believe they have experienced past lives on 32 different worlds within the Intergalactic Confederation. They view Earth as a "garbage dump of the universe," inhabited by souls with low Karma, and believe that by adopting Norman's teachings and ceasing to transmit negative psychic energies, they will be freed by "Space Brothers."

In Bellaire, Michigan, Curran photographed John Shepherd, who has transformed his grandmother's small house into a dedicated UFO detection center. This center is equipped with extensive electronic gear, described as more advanced than a NASA tracking station. Shepherd's objective is to transmit signals, which he calls "artistic energy," in an effort to attract UFOs.

Curran also met Orlando Toroni in Orland, California. Toroni regularly drives to a high hill each evening to operate a box of equipment from his Oldsmobile, aiming to track UFOs that he believes are hiding behind satellites.

Common Traits and Psychological Interpretation

Curran observed several commonalities among UFO believers, noting that most possess high-school diplomas and belong to the lower-middle class, although he did encounter some wealthy individuals. He also found that a significant number of cultists have reported experiencing unexplained lights or other phenomena. Curran suggests that UFOs function as a form of "god" for contemporary society, perceived as omniscient, benevolent, and unbound by the constraints of space and time.

Drawing on the work of psychologist Carl G. Jung, Curran posits that UFOs represent one of the many myths that humanity creates to cope with its need for narrative and to make sense of a complex and intimidating world. He believes that people cannot escape their inherent need to construct myths.

Curran's photographs and observations are compiled in his book, "In Advance of the Landing: Folk Concepts of Outer Space," published by Abbeville.

Concluding Question

Curran's stated goal with his book is to prompt readers to reflect on their own belief systems, posing the question: "Are your beliefs any more reasonable or provable than a belief in flying saucers?"

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of OMNI magazine engages with themes of science fiction, speculative futures, and the human fascination with the unknown, particularly concerning extraterrestrial life and UFO phenomena. The editorial stance, as reflected in the "Anti-Matter" feature, appears to be one of objective observation and exploration of belief systems, rather than outright endorsement or dismissal of UFO claims. The magazine provides a platform for documenting the cultural impact and psychological underpinnings of these beliefs, encouraging critical self-reflection from its readers.